The Methodist Church
 
The Buzz
Issue 73

Hello everyone and welcome to the latest edition of THE BUZZ.

THE BUZZ is a great resource that brings the whole Connexion together and allows us to share successful ideas between districts, circuits, churches and church groups. If you have any success stories you would like to promote and share, then please get in touch and let us know how God is working in your local area.

Dina Lazarus  

Three more exciting and encouraging stories from around Methodism. The contacts provided will be pleased to give you more information.

WORSHIP - Remembering Wesley
From The New Room, Bristol and South Gloucestershire Circuit

How better Wesley Dayto mark Wesley Day than at the world’s oldest Methodist chapel on a blissfully sunny day?

The New Room in Bristol, where John Wesley and the early Methodists preached, was the fitting setting for our celebrations.

We kicked off with traditional early morning Communion, followed by an energy-boosting breakfast and then later a Wesley-themed afternoon tour. Amongst the attractions were Charles Wesley’s family home and St James Priory - the parish church that John and Charles Wesley considered their own.

The day was topped off by a Songs of Praise service with the New Room Singers leading the musical charge. Over 100 people came to belt out hymns by Wesley and the ‘Messiah’ composer, Handel, whose death 250 years ago was also commemorated.

Email contact: Gordon James - gordonjames@blueyonder.co.uk
Phone contact: 0117 3735922
Website: www.methodistbsgc.org.uk
 

LEARNING & CARING - Carbon fund gives energy boost to AIDS orphanage
From Bethesda Methodist Church, Gloucestershire Circuit

It’s not just environmentally friendly projects at home that our churches are so good at backing.solar panel

Here at the Bethesda Methodist Church we’ve won awards for our environmental work, and now we’ve raised cash to buy a solar roof panel for an AIDS orphanage in South Africa.

The green energy-boosting panel means that the Sukumawenze Orphanage in Durban can make use of the sizzling South African sunshine whilst slashing its energy bills and helping the environment.

It was made possible because of generous donations by our members into a carbon offset fund.

We have been committed to cutting our carbon footprint for a decade and are signed up to the National Eco-Congregation Programme.

Backed by cash from the government's Low Carbon Building Programme and the Church's Circuit Advance Fund, our next fundraising venture is for a solar panel for our own church roof.

Email contact: Mark Boulton - cec@broklebank.plus.com
Phone contact: 01242 674839
 

SERVICE - Youngsters cook up right recipe for Africa
From Manor Methodist Church, London Mission South Circuit

Take a bunch of enthusiastic teenagers, throw in a fun auction and sprinkle on a special AGM dinnercause.

That was our recipe for a highly entertaining AGM dinner where our Scout group - the 16th Bermondsey Scouts - dusted off their Delias, donned their chefs’ whites and served up some fantastic fusion flavours in aid of Africa.

The evening, which we called the ‘Worlds Away Cafe’, was dreamed up by 17-year-old church member Louise Marlin and raised a very respectable £300 for Scout projects in Malawi and Uganda.

Over 60 diners, including some very proud mums and dads, enjoyed a candlelit dinner of African chicken and rice, Spaghetti Bolognese and good old British favourite - sausage and mash!

Everybody present was delighted that their auction items, including vases, bric-a-brac, books and even a mini fridge, were converted into cash for the good cause.

Our Scout leader, Eddie Langdown said, “All the parents and leaders were amazed at how well the youngsters did. The cooking and presentation were terrific. It made the AGM a most enjoyable and worthwhile event.”

Email contact: Eddie Langdown - the3lang@btinternet.com

Phone contact:  0207 231 2476

The BUZZ needs 'good news' stories from you! And don't forget to send images from your event if you have them too!

Contact lazarusd@methodistchurch.org.uk if you have a story for The BUZZ.

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